Oxygen delivery apparatus



y 14, 1942- A. J. FAUSEK EI'AL 2,289,639

' OXYGEN DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed has. 23, 1940 ARTHUR J. FAUSEK BY'IRwms F. FAUSEK W V I ATTORNEY.

Patented July 14,1942

oxroan nauvnnx arraaa'rus Arthur J. Fausek and Irwing F. Fausek,

Clayton, Mo.

Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 311,228 r '1 Claims.(01.128-204) Y This invention relates generally to oxygen deliveryapparatus and more specifically to apparatus of this type adapted foruse in regulating theflow of oxygen to aviators and other persons flyingin aircraft at high altitudes, the predominant object of the inventionbeing to provide an improved oxygen delivery apparatus which is soconstructed and arranged that it is capable of automatically regulatingthe delivery of oxygen to occupants of aircraft in accordance with thepressures of the atmosphere at various high altitudes at which anaircraft equipped with the improved vapparatus is being flown.

As is generally known to persons familiar with 5 such matters, aircraftdesigned or intended for use in flying at very high altitudes areprovided with oxygen tanks from which oxygen is supplied to occupants ofsuch aircraft when higher altitudes are reached where there is adeficiency of oxygen. Prior to this invention delivery of oxygen tooccupants of aircraft flying at very high altitudes was generallyregulated by valves which were manually actuated by the occupants ofaircraft to whom the'oxygen was being de- 85 livered. However,experience of aviators in fly-.- ing at very high altitudes has provedthat a state approaching unconsciousness resulting from a deficiency ofoxygen at high altitudes frequently occurs without warning, and whenthis situation is produced the aviators are deprived of their senses tothe extent that they are unable to coordinate mind and body suflicientlyto manually actuateoxygen delivery means. Thus,

- is increased thereduced pressure of "the atmosphere at such higheraltitudes will result in automatic actuation of the oxygen deliveryapparatus' to increase the volume of oxygen deliver-ed by the apparatusto compensate for the deficiency of oxygen in the rarefied atmosphere atthe higher altitudes attained by-the aircraft Thus, occupants ofaircraft equipped with oxygen delivery apparatus of the type disclosedherein are assured of the delivery to them of the proper amount ofoxygen at various high altitudes without requirement of any manualactivity on their parts to brim this situation about.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved oxygen delivery apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, on a reduced scale, taken on line 2-4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form ofdiaphragm which may be employed as a part of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a view on a reduced scale showing the improved apparatusenclosed within ahousing wherein heat is produced whereby extremely Ywhich is provided with a body portion 2 wherein a chamber 3 is formed.Forming a part of an aviator in the situation referred to will, be- $5the body portion 2 and extended transversely cause of the deficiency ofoxygen, becomes unconscious with the result that his aircraft will crashunless he is fortunate enough to revive as his descent carries him intolower altitudes while suflicient time remains for him to regain controlgen to occupants of aircraft being flown at 4 7 high altitudes which isautomatically actuated in accordance with the various pressures of theatmosphere at different high altitudes in which the aircraft equippedwith the improved oxygen delivery apparatus is being flown. In otherwords, the oxygen delivery apparatus of the present invention is capableof being set to deliver a predetermined volume of oxygen at a certainaltitude and as the altitude of the airwith respect thereto adiacent'tothe upper end thereof is a bridge portion 4, said chamber 3 being openat the upper end of the body portion 2 at opposite sides of said bridgeportion 4. Formed in the bridge portion 4, preferably at the approximatelongitudinal centerthereof, is a cavity 6, said cavity being open atthelower portion of the bridge portion and its wallbeing provided withscrewthreads throughout its lower portion.

Associated with the cavity 5 is a nozzle 6 that includes a screwthreadedportion 0' which is screwthreadedly extended into the screwthreadedlower portion of said cavity, said nozzle having an opening 1 formedtherein which terminates in .a reduced discharge orifice I. Formedlongitudinally through the bridee -portion t is an oxygen inletpassageway I which communicates at its inner end with the cavity 3 craftwith which the apparatus is associated filijand at its oposite, orouter, end with an open- Pressure regulator I.

said opening receiving a screwthreaded end portion of an oxygenconductor H by which oxygen is conducted from a source of supply to theArranged at the lower end of the body portion 2 of thepressure'regulator I is a member H! which includes a marginal rim thatis secured to the lower portion of the wall of said body portion bysuitable fastening devices which will be hereinafter referred to. therebeing a suitable gasket it interposed between the lower edge of the wallof the body portion 2 of the p regulator i and an adjacent face of themember is to provide a gas-tight joint between these parts. Also themember i2 is provided with an upstanding flange i4 with which the inneredge of the gasketcontacts and which engages the extreme lower portionof the inner face oi the wall of the body portion 2. The member i2includes also a aesaees the bridge portion I! which extends transverselyfrom one to the opposite side of the rim portion thereof, said bridgeportion having a cavity it formed therein at the approximatelongitudinal center thereof which cavity is formed partially within thebridge portion proper and partially within a downwardly projectedextension it formed on said bridge portion and which cavity is open atthe lower end of said extension. Formed in the bridge @portion l5 andextended longitudinally thereof is an outlet passageway it whichcommunicates at its inner end with the cavity i8 and at its opposite endwith an opening it formed partially within the bridge portion i5 andpartially in an extension 2B projected outwardly from the member it, thewall of said opening being screwthreaded and said opening receiving thescrewthreaded end portion of an oxygen delivery conductor 2|.

. tening elements 82, said fastening elements being extended throughapertures formed through the member i2, the gasket it, the diaphragm 2B,and i the element 23 of the closure structure 22, and screwthreadedupper end portions of said fastening elements being screwed intoscrewthreaded openings formed in the wall of said body portion 2.

Disposed at the upper 2' of the pressure regulator i is a; member 33which is of generally circular shape and is provided at opposite endswith outwardly extended ear portions 33'. The member 33 is in the formof a plate from which is extended in a downward direction an annularflange 34, there being a gasket 35 interposed between the lower face ofsaid flange andan adjacent face of the body portion of the pressureregulator i, and fastening elements at being employed to secure saidmember 88 to said body portion of the pressure regulator as shown inFig.1.

Arranged immediately above the member 33 is formed centrally of themember 33 and a nut 38a Secured to this member i2 at the lower end anupper, externally screwthreaded portion which is screwthreadedlydisposed within said screwthreaded openingof said annular element 23,and a lock nut 25 which serves to prevent unintended rotation of saidcap 26 with respectto the element 23. Arranged at the point of junctionbetween the member. i2 and the element 23 is a diaphragm 28whosemarginal edge portion is interposed between adjacent faces .of saidmember l2 and said element 23. The diaphragm '28 constitutes the bottom.wall of the chamber 3 of the pressure regulator I and said diaphragm isprovided with a plate 21 which is disposed at its upperface and isadapted to contact with the lower edge of the extension I! of the bridgeportion i5. At the lower face of the diaphragm a similar, but slightlylarger, plate 20 is provided, and said-plates 21 and 2! are hired to thediaphragm 25 by a bolt 28 whose screwthreaded shank is extended throughapertures formed through saidplates and through said diaphragm andreceives a nut 30 which is jambed against the plate 22 to clamp saidplates in place with respect to said diaphragm. A coil spring ii isinterposed under compression between the plate 28 and the bottom wall ofthe cap 24, said coil spring tending to move the diaphragm upwardly sothat the plate "is normally forced into close contact with being screwedon the lower, externally screwthreaded portion of the sleeve and beingjammed against the lower face of the member 38 to secure the diaphragmto said member 33. Secured to the upper wall of the diaphragm 31 is anelement 39 which includes a. flange 80 that is disposed in contact withthe inner face of said upper diaphragm wali,-a screwthreaded extension4| which is projected from said flange through apertures formed throughsaid upper wall of said diaphragm and through a plate 42 which isdisposed in contact with the outer face of the upper wall of thediaphragm, and a stem 43 which projects downwardly from the flange 40through the sleeve 38. Theelement-39 is secured to the upper wall of thediaphragm 31 by a nut 44 which is scewed on the screwthreaded extension4| and is jambed against the plate 42. It is to be noted that the stem43 of the element 39 is of much less diameter than the opening throughthe sleeve 38 to provide a passageway through the sleeve which placesthe interior of the diaphragm 31 in communication with the chamberwithin the body portion 2 of .the pressure regulator i.

1 The lower portion of the stem 43 of the element 39 is externallyscrewthreaded and arranged in screwthreaded engagement with saidscrewthreaded portion of said stem is the upper portion of a yoke 45.The yoke 45 partially embraces the bridge portion 4 of the body portion2 of the presbeing adapted to movewith the yoke 45 into and out ofcontact with the lower end of the nozzle 8' the lower face of theextension ll of the bridge nfi end of the body portion The element 46includes a lower extension 49 which proiects'into an opening 50 of aguiding member that projects upwardly from the bridge portion I5'ofthemember l2, said arrangement serving to guide the yoke 45 forstraight-line movement as it moves vertically under the influence of thediaphragm 31, as will be hereinafter explained. A coil spring '52 isarranged in embracing relationrwith respect to the guiding mem ber 5|and contacts at its'op'posite ends with the bridge portion I 5 and aportion of the element 46, respectively, this coil spring being intendedto serve as a shock absorber and to stabilize movement of the yoke. I

At the extreme upper end of the apparatus A a plate 53 is provided whichis connected to the member 33 by connecting elements 54, the particularembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.'1 and 2 of the drawingincluding two of such connecting elements disposed atopposite sides ofthe apparatus. Theconnecting elements embrace the bolts 66' and contactat their opposite 5 has been previously referred to herein, and theupper unscrewthreaded portion of the extension 4| of the element 39 isdisposed in the enlarged lower portion of the opening 65 formed throughthe plate 64. The plates 51 and 64 are connected by bolts 66 which areprovided with head portions 66' that are seated in recesses formed inthe plate 51, and the lower ends of said bolts extend .through aperturesformed through the plate 64 and are screw'threaded to receive nuts 61which are screwed into-contact with portions of the 'lower face of saidplate 64. Spacing of the plates 51 and 64 is maintained by sleeves 68which ends with said plates 51 and 64, respectively, wherebydownwardmovement of the plate 51 will impart like downward movement tothe plate 64 because of the presence of the sleeves 68 therebetween.Also'coil springs 69 are interposed be- 54 are provided with flanges 54'which contact H with the upper faces of the ear portions33' of themember 33, and nuts 55 are screwed on the lower,

screwthreaded portions of said connecting elements and arejambed againstthe lower faces of i said ear portions, portions of the connectingeletweenspring seats 69', which embrace lower portions of the bolts 66and contact with the lower nuts 61, and portions of the top face of themember 33, said coil springs tending to resist downments being extendedthrough openings formed through said ear portions. At their upper endsthe connecting elements 54 extend through openings formed throughportions of the plate 53 and nuts 56 are screwed on the screwthreade'd"upper end portions of said connecting elements and are jambed againstportions of the top face of said plate 53. w

Spaced downwardly from the plate 53 is a plate 51 and interposed betweenthe plates'53 and 51 is a bellows-type diaphragm 58, said plates 53 and5'! being provided with extended portions 53', and 51' which contactwith opposed outer faces of said has formed therethrough, centrallythereof, an

v: ward movementof the plates 51 and 64 and. serving as shock absorbersand movement stabilizers for said plates. The lower nuts 61 may beadjusted to regulate the force exerted in the coil springs 69".

Intrposed between the plates 51 and 64 is a pair of spaced plates-wandII between which a bellows-type diaphragm 12 is arranged. The

' plate 10, when viewed in plan, is of the shape shown diaphragm. Thelower wall of the diaphragm 56 in Fig. 2,-said plate 10 having opposedcarportions 10' provided with openings 13 formed therethrough throughwhich the connecting elements 54 extend. At the locations of the opposedear portions of the plate III the connecting elements 54 areprovidedwith'screwthreadcd portions on which nuts 14 are mounted andthese nuts are screwed into tight'contact with the opposite faces ofsaid ear portions of said plate I0 to rigidly fix said plate to saidconnecting elements. The portion aperture through which the shankportion 59a of a centering element 59 is extended, said centeringelement being provided also with a flange portion 5% which contacts withthe inner face of the,

lower wall of the diaphragm and is welded, or otherwise secured, theretoto provide a gas-tight joint between'said parts. The shank portion 59aof the centering element 53 projects into an opening 60 formed in theplate 51. The top wall of the diaphragm 58 has formed therethrough,centrally thereof, an aperture 6| at which a suitable coupling 62 iswelded or otherwise secured to said top diaphragm wall, said couplingserving to connect to the diaphragm a gas conductor 63 in such of theplate 1.0 which contacts with the top wall of the diaphragm 12 is in theform of a down manner that gas may be introduced into the interior ofthe diaphragm. When gas has been introduced into the interior of thediaphragm 58, through the instrumentality of the coupling and conductor,to produce within the diaphragm a definite, predetermined gas pressuretherein, the conductor 63 may be sealed inany suitable manner tomaintain such gas pressure within the diaphragm.

Spaced a substantial distance downwardly from the plate 5l.is a plate 64which is provided with a downwardly extended boss portion 64" locatedapproximately centrally thereof, said plate hav ing a centrally locatedopening 65 formed therethrough which extends through said boss portion64' and said opening being of slightly greater diameter atthe lower endof said boss portion. The lower face of the boss portion 64 of the platecontacts with the top face of the nut 44, which wardly extendedprojection Illa and said top wall of the diaphragml! hasJassociated withit a coupling element 15 which connects said top diaphragm wall to saidplate 10. The coupling ele- -ment referred to includes a flange portionwhich is disposed incontact with the inner face of v the top wall of thediaphragm, and a screwthreaded tubular portion that'extends through anopening formed through said top wallof the diaphragm and is screwed intoa screwthreaded opening formed in the plate 10, said flange portion ofsaid coupling'element being welded, or otherwise-secured to said topwall of the diaphragm to provide a gas-tight joint between said parts.

The lower wall of the diaphragm 12 has associated therewith a centeringelement 16 which includes a flange portion disposed in contact withtactsat its lower end with the top face of the extension ll of the element 39associated with the'diaphragm 31 and. previously referred to herein.Extended through an opening formed through the projection 10a of theplate 16 and The" plate H has formed thereon a I duced within saiddiaphragm at which time the gas conductor 18 may be suitably sealed tomaintain such gas pressure within said diaphragm.

In the use of the improved oxygen delivery apparatus disclosed hereinthe diaphragm 31, which is the regulator actuating diaphragm, is adoptedto maintain with the chamber 3 of the regulator a predetermined gaspressure, the interior of the diaphragm 31 being in communication withthe chamber 3 through the sleeve 38 so that the same gas pressure ispresent within the chamber 3 and within the diaphragm 31. Because ofthis arrangement, when the pressure within the chamber 3 and diaphragm31 drops below a predetermined pressure the upper wall of the diaphragm31 moves downwardly with the result that the valve seat 48 will bemoved, by the element 39 and theyoke 45, away from the lower end of thenozzle 6 to permit greater flow of oxygen into the chamber 3 anddiaphragm 31. Also, when the pressure within the chamber 3 and thediaphragm 31 reaches the predetermined pressure the upper wall of thediaphragm 31 will be raised by the pressure within said diaphragm toelevate the valve seat 48 and thereby shut off passage of oxygen intothe chamber 3 from the nozzle 6.

If however, when the improved apparatus is associated with an aircraftand is carried to high altitudes where atmosphere of reduced pressure isencountered, some means were not provided to prevent it, the greaterpressure within the diaphragm 31 would overcome the reduced pressure ofthe atmosphere acting against the outer surface of the diaphragm 31, tomove the upper wall of said diaphragm 31 upwardly to draw the valve seatagainst the lower end of the nozzle 6 and thereby shut off flow ofoxygen into the chamber 3 at a time when a greater flow of oxygen into'the chamber 3 is required.

In order to prevent the condition just: mentioned, the improvedapparatus includes the diaphragm 12 which functions as a compensator orequalizer. The pressure within the diaphragm 12 is approximately thesame as the maximum pressure normally present within the chamber 3 anddiaphragm 31 and the lower wall of said diaphragm 12 is capable offlexing downwardly when the pressure of atmosphere acting against theouter surface of the diaphragm 12 dropsbelow the pressure within saiddiaphragm 12. Because of this situation the tendency of the upper wallof the diaphragm 31 to flex upwardly in atmosphere of reduced pressureis offset by the tendency of the lower wall ofthe diaphragm 12 to flexdownwardly in atmosphere of such reduced pressure, with the result thatthe abutting portions 4| and 11 associated with the diaphragms 31 and12, respectively, prevent outward flexing of both of said diaphragms.Thus the diaphragm l2 eflectively prevents reduced atmospheric pressureacting against the outer surface of the diaphragm 31 from interferingwith maintenance by said diaphragm 31' of av predetermined gas pressurewithin the chamber 3.

The improved apparatus includes still another diaphragm, the diaphragm58, which functions as sageway It to the delivery conductor 2|.

an accelerating diaphragm that acts to move the valve seat 43 in adirection away from the lower end of the nozzle 6 to insure delivery athigh altitudes of the additional flow of oxygen required at such highaltitudes. The diaphragm 63 has trapped therein a gas under apredetermined pressure, which, when the apparatus is carried into higheraltitudes where atmospheric pressure is reduced, expands the diaphragm58. This expension of the diaphragm 58 moves the plate 51 downwardly andbecause of the interposition of the sleeves 38 between the plates 51 and64, said plate 64 will also be moved downwardly in response to expansionof the diaphragm 58. As has been previously explained herein, theportion 63' of the plate 64 contacts with the nut A i associated withthe element 39 which is related to the diaphragm-,3], and downwardmovement of the plate 65 will move said element 39, together with theupper wall of the diaphragm 31, downwardly with the result that thevalve seat 38 will be moved away from the lower end of the nozzle 6through the instrumentality of the stem portion 43 of the element 39 andthe yoke 45, whereby greater flow of oxygen into the cavity 3 of theregulator of the apparatus will be provided.

The apparatusA includes yet another diaphragm, the diaphragm 26, whichcontrols delivery of' oxygen by the apparatus through the deliveryconductor 2|. This diaphragm 26 has associated with it the coil spring3| which forces the plate 21 of the diaphragm 26 against the portion Hof the bridge portion I5 to prevent passage of oxygen through the cavityl6 and pas- The force exerted by the coil spring 3| against thediaphragm 26 is such that said coil spring may be flexed only byexcessive gas pressure within the chamber 3, of the regulator I of theapparatus A. In other words, when merely a normal gas pressure ispresent within the chamber 3 of the regulator the coil spring 3| willforce the plate 21 of thediaphragm 2B tight against the extension l1 ofthe bridge portion l5 to close the lower end of the cavity l6 andprevent passage of oxygen to the oxygen delivery conductor 2|. However,when the apparatus is carried into a higher altitude where delivery ofoxygen by the apparatus is required, the accelerating diaphragm 58functions as has been previously explained to move the valve seat awayfrom the lower end of thenoz'zle 6. This increases the flowof oxygeninto the chamber 3 and builds up the pressure therein to a point whereit overcomes the force of the coil spring 3|, whereupon the diaphragm 26will be flexed downwardly by the increased gas pressure actingthereag'ainst to uncover the.

- which are welded or otherwise secured together at their adjacentwalls, said adjacent walls having alined openings 9| formed thereinwhich place the interiors of said diaphragms in communication with eachother.

Also, if desired, the apparatus A may be enclosed within a housing 92,as shown in Fig. 4,

the interior of which is heated by suitable means,

such, for instance, asan electrical heating element 93. This arrangementwill prevent extremely low temperatures to which the appa-, ratusmay besubjected at very high. altitudes trom-ishrinking'the gases andcontracting metallic "I parts of the apparatus soaas toaflect properopervationoitheapparatusnw 't w An oxygen ,aentaymsaritts Ta pressureregulator, having, a chamber, said pressureregulator including-anoxygen, inlet conduc-;,

tor for conductingpxygento said chamber,

oxygen delivery conductor for conducting oxygen from said chamber; andmeans forv controlling passage of oxygen-into'said chamber by way ofsaid inlet; conductor; a diaphragm I or actuating; saidcontrolling;meansyinrrcspolise to' change in pressureof oxy enw thinsaid chamber, an elqualev icing-diaphragm arranged to compensateiorreduced pressure (of 3 atmosphere external of a the" apparatus, and{preventwabnormal actuation oi said oxygen controlling means by saidcontrolling means actuating diaphragm because, of ,the. pres.-

once of external atmosphere; of "reduced pressure, and means storsubjecting saidoxygen controlling 51 means to actuationimadditionto theactuationp,

to whichxflit is: subjected; by said controlling meansactuating:diaphragm, the last-mentioned means comprising a hollow expansiblediaphragm wherein amedium isfirapped which tends to ex pand saiddiaphragm. I

2. An oxygen delivery apparatus comprising a pressure regulator'having achamber, said pressure regulator. including an oxygen inlet conductorfor conducting oxygen to said chamber, an oxygen delivery conductor forconducting oxygen from said chamber, and means for controlling passageof oxygenfinto said chamber byway oi! said inlet conductor, a diaphragmfor actuating said controlling means in response to change in pressureof oxygen within said chamber, an equalizing diaphragm arranged tocompensate for reduced pressure of atmosphere external oi the apparatusand prevent abnormal actuation of said oxygen controlling means by saidcon-' trolling means actuating diaphragm because of the presenceofjexternal atmosphere or reduced pressure, means which is subjected tofixed operating pressure for subjecting said oxygen, controlling meansto "actuation in addition to the actuation to which it is subjectedbysaid controlling means actuating diaphragm, the last mentioned meanscomprising a hollow expansible diaphragm wherein a medium is trappedwhich tends to. expand said diaphragm, and means for controlling passageof oxygen from the chamber of said-pressure regulator by a my of saidoxygen delivery conductor.

3. An oxygen delivery apparatus comprising a. pressure regulator havinga chamber, said pressure regulator including an oxygen inlet conductorfor conducting oxygen to said chamber, an oxygen delivery conductor forconducting oxygen from said chamber, and means for conphragm toractuating said controlling means in therein which tends to expand thediaphragm,

and means for subjecting said oxygen controlling means to actuation inaddition to the actuation to which it is subjected by said controllingmeansactuating diaphragm. v i

4. oxygen delivery apparatus comprising a pressure regulator having achamber, said pres,-

sure re ator including an oxygen inlet conduc-- tor for onducting oxygento said chamber, an oxygen delivery conductor for conducting oxygenfromv said chamber, and means for controlling passage of O ygen intosaid chamber, a hollow expansible diaphragm for actuating said controlling means in response to change in pressure of oxygen within saidchamber, said chamber and the interior of said diaphragm being in communication with each other, an equalizing diaphragm'arranged tocompensate for reduced pressure of atmosphere 'exterioroi theapparatusand prevent abnormal actuation of said oxygen controlling means becauseoi the presence or ,external atmosphere of reduced pressure, saidequalizing diaphragm being of the hollow expansible. type and having iamediumftrapped therein which tends to expand the diaphragm,

andmeans for subjecting said oxygen controlling,

means to actuation in addition to the actuation to which it is submittedby said controlling,

means actuating diaphragm, the last-mentioned means including a hollowexpansible diaphragm having a medium trapped therein which tends toexpand the diaphragm.

5. An oxygen delivery apparatus comprising a 7 pressure regulator havinga chamber, saidpressure regulator including an oxygen inlet con-' ductorfor conducting oxygen to said chamber, an oxygen delivery conductor forconducting oxygen from said chamber, and means for controlling passageof oxygen into said chamber-by way of saidinlet conductor, a hollowexpansible diaresponse to'change in pressure within said chamher, saidchamber and the interior of said dia-' phragm being in communicationwith each other,

an equalizing diaphragm arranged to compensate for reduced pressure ofatmosphere exterior of the apparatus and prevent abnormal actuation orsaid oxygencontrolling meansbecause oi the presence of externalatmosphere of reduced trolling passage of oxygen into said chamber, a

pressure, said equalizing diaphragm and said controlling meansactuating. diaphragm having elements associated therewith which areadapted to abut whereby. expansion of said equalizing diaphragm opposesabnormal expansion of said controlling means actuating diaphragm, and

means including a diaphragm for subjecting said oxygen controlling meansto actuation in addition to the actuation to which it is subjected bysaid controlling means actuating diaphragm.

6. An oxygen delivery apparatus comprising a pressure regulator having achamber, said pressure regulator including an oxygen inlet conductor forconducting oxygen to said chamber, an oxygen delivery conductor forconducting oxygen from said chamber, and means for controlling passageof oxygen into said chamber by way of said inlet conductor, a hollowexpansible diaphragm for actuating said controlling means in response tochange in pressure within said chamber, said chamber and the interior ofsaid diaphragm being in communication with each other, an equalizingdiaphragm arranged to compensate for reduced pressure of atmosphereexterior of the apparatus and prevent abnormal j actuation of saidoxygencontrolling means because of the presence of external atmosphereat reduced pressure, said equalizing diaphragm and b said controllingmeans actuating diaphragm having elements associated therewith which areadapted to abut whereby expansion of said equalizing diaphragm opposesabnormal expansion 01 said controlling means actuating diaphragm,

' means including a diaphragm for subjecting said oxygen controllingmeans to actuation in addition to the actuation to which it is subjectedbysaid controlling means actuating diaphragm, and

- ductor for conducting oxygen to said chamber,

an oxygen delivery conductor for conducting oxygen from said chamber.and means for controlling passage of oxygen into said chamber by way ofsaid inlet conductor, a hollow expansibie diaphragm for actuating saidcontrolling means in response to change in pressure within said chamber,said chamber and the interior of said diaphragm being in communicationwith each other, an equalizing diaphragm arranged to compensate forreduced pressure of atmosphere exterior of the apparatus and preventabnormal actuation of said oxygen controlling means because of thepresence of external atmosphere or reduced pressure; said equalizingdiaphragm and said controlling means actuating diaphragm having elementsassociated therewith which are adapted to abut whereby expansion of saidequa1- izing diaphragm opposes abnormal expansion 0! said controllingmeans actuating diaphragm, means including a diaphragm i'or subjectingsaid oxygen controlling means to actuation in addition to the actuationto which it is subjected by said controlling means actuating diaphragm,and pressure-responsive means comprising a diaphragm for controllingpassage of oxygen from the chamber of said pressure regulator by way ofsaid oxygen delivery conductor. ARTHUR J. FAUSEK. IRWING F. FAUSEK.

